Premier sticks by Ukrainian-refugee plan

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This article was published 15/08/2022 (862 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba will not borrow a page from its western neighbour by co-ordinating humanitarian charter flights for Ukrainian refugees.

Saskatchewan welcomed a second flight of newcomers last week.

Premier Heather Stefanson said the province’s current approach to resettling Ukrainians fleeing war is getting results and suggested other jurisdictions that partner with organizations to charter flights for Ukrainians are playing catch up.

“We welcomed over 5,500 Ukrainians to Manitoba through our welcoming reception centre,” Stefanson said. “Because we have one of the highest per capita welcoming of Ukrainians to Manitoba, I think what we’re doing is working.

“Other provinces are looking at our welcoming and reception centre as a model across the country,” the premier said. “Maybe other provinces are trying to catch up to us by chartering flights.”

Last week, 200 Ukrainians arrived in Saskatchewan on flights chartered through a government partnership with humanitarian organizations Open Arms and Solidaire. It marked the second time newcomers were flown from Poland to Saskatchewan since the war in Ukraine began in February.

The Saskatchewan government said 1,500 displaced Ukrainians have arrived or resettled in that province. Earlier this summer, the Newfoundland and Labrador government chartered two flights to transport Ukrainian refugees to their province.

The Manitoba government, however, will continue to work with Ottawa to resettle Ukrainian newcomers, Stefanson said. Approximately 300 Ukrainians arrived in Manitoba on a flight chartered by the federal government in May.

“We’re very proud to have been the very first charter flight that Canada received,” she said.

New Democrat MLA Mark Wasyliw accused the provincial government of failing to back up its rhetoric on Ukraine with action and funding.

“They are very quick to line up Ukrainian refugees or newcomers and the Ukrainian community for photo ops, but they’re very slow to actually put any government money behind any sort of action that would bring more Ukrainian refugees to safety,” Wasyliw said.

The Fort Garry MLA said his party has repeatedly called on the province to establish immigration offices in Poland and to charter flights to bring more Ukrainians to Manitoba.

“Manitoba could be bringing in way more refugees,” Wasyliw said.

To date, the Manitoba government has provided $800,000 in humanitarian aid in addition to supporting a reception centre, providing short-term hotel accommodations, funding immigration medical examinations for 1,870 people, and bankrolling day camps for newcomer children and youth.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca